Can-capping machine.



. G. H. AYARS. CAN OAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. a, 1906.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Sumufoz I I f wihwosca 6M x,

C. H. AYARS. CAN GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8, 190a.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w? hb Ask A? R? wax u.

ame-Mon G. H. AYARS. CAN GAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FREE/1906.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

7 BHEETS-SHEET 3.

lvilfneooea m Kflm p C. H. AYARS. CAN CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. s, 1906.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

O. H. AYARS. CAN OAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8, 1906.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

7 BHEETS-SHEET 6.

witnesses C. H. AYARS.

CAN GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. s, 1906.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

7 SHEETSSHEET '7.

To all whom it may concern:

UNITED; STATESPATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. AYAFcS, OF SALEM, JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AYARS MACHINE COMPANY,'OF

- SALEM, NEW JERSEY, A'UORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

OAN-GAlPPING MACHIN E.

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. Arm's, a citizen of the United States,residing at Salem, in the county of Salem and. State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Can- Capping Machines,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machinery for 10 capping cans and making thefinal closure to hermeticallyseal the contents of the can.

The invention has among its objects to j provide a machine that willfacilitatethe operations attending the final closing of the- @oans afterthey have been filled, and to provide a construction of machine that maybe i maybe capped.

readily adjusted so that cans of various sizes Another object of theinvention is to provide devices that will hold the newly-soldered capsdown on the cans after they leave the cappingsteel or iron for asuflicientperiod to enable the solder to set.

- Another object of the invention is to provide :an improvedconstruction-f single flexible carrier with a plurality of individualcanseats on which the cans are placed at the initial operation andwherethey remain while all of the succeeding operations are being effected. 1

With these and other objects in view the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying tion that-all but one of the soldering irons gas chamber,burners and soldering irons.-

5 and burners have been omitted. Fig. 4, is

an=en=lar ed sectional elevation of the upper part of t e hollow shaftto show the an and Fig. 5, is a'de'tail. view showing the lowerend ofthe soldering iron and its surrounding firebox or heat chamber. Fig. 6,is a horizontal Specification of Letters I'atent. Application filedFebruary 8, 1906. Serial No. 300,156.

ratenteu Dec. 29, trees.

section through the hollow shaft and the carrier and can seat operatingdevices, the section being taken on line 1'010 of 8.'

11, is a plan view of the devices for rotating the can seats. Fig. 12 isan enlarged detail view showing a vertical section through the verticalguides for the shat-ts of the can seats,-the section being taken on theline il'212 of Fig. 10. F" 13, is an enlarged sectional detail throng-the can-seats and flexible carrier. Figs. 14, and, 1.5, a1'edetailviews of one of the removable 'can-spacing devices. Fig. 16, is avertical section through the cap-holder device to hold the caps downwhile they o'ool,the section being taken on the line 161'.6-of F" 1 17,is ;a detail of one of the cap hlfiding ro fiers. Figs. 18, '19, 20 :and21, are detail views of the solder-feed -devices,the Figs. 20 and 21being sections taken on the line oa of Fig. 19. Fig. 22, is a detailside elevation of the cam and swinging bar for operating the solderfeed.

3 Referring to the drawings, the numerals, d, designate two verticalsides frames which are connected at their upper ends by a suitable beam,2 and at their lower ends by a similar beam, 3. A hollow or tubularshaft, 4, extends vertically from the lower beam, 3., through the upperbeam, 2, and just' below the upper beam this shaft is provided a screw-threaded portion, 5.. Below the threaded portion the tubular shaft isturther provided with one or more ports, 6., through which fits theshaft snugly but is free enough sectional view through the air and gaschamlarged vertical section taken'on the line '9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 1 0,is acentral longitudinal the hollow shaft.

tional 'detail through' one of the soldering her and hollow shaft and:shows the ports in Fig. 7, is a" horizontal secthe sh t'at agiven=distance below thecollar.

it will lie-seen that by rotating the collar on the shaft by means ofthe laterally-. rojeotingrods, 12,1it-may be made to travelanzthe' shaftin a vertical direction and thereby be raised or lowered as desimed. Asthe circular 110.

head is sustained entirely by the collar its position on the shaft maybe changed by rotatin the collar in the proper direction.

elo w the head, 9, and also surrounding the tubular shaft is a circulardrum, 13, having reduced ends, 14, which are screwthreaded so as toreceive a packing gland, 15. This drum forms a chamber,-16, around theshaft into which the orts, 6, in the shaft open so that the air an gasforming the heating agent may accumulate in the chamber of the drum.Bolts, 17, depend from the circular head, 9, and have the1r lower endssecured in the walls of the drum and serve to. sustain the drumpendently from the head.

A plurality of pipes, 18, radiate from the drum and each of these pipeshas a valve, 19, which controls the passage of the heating agent throughit. The outer ends of the pipes form burners, 20. The drum and radiatlngpipes are vertically adjustable on the shaft simultaneously with thehead, 9, and collar, 7, and the packing gland, 15, prevents the)escapeof the heating mixture, (air and as g Around the eriphery of thecircular head, 9, are a plura 'ty of brackets, 21, each of which carriesa vertical tube, 22. At the u per end and just above, the bracket eachtu e is provided with a. circular collar, 23, which is rigid thereon andwhich has a roller, 24, at its inner side. The lower pendent end of thetube, 22, carries a circular soldering steel or iron, 25, and alsocarries a fire-box or heat chamber, 26. This fire-box surrounds thesoldering-iron and has a'fixed relation with respect thereto and at oneside the fire-box is proyided with a flared mouth, 27, with an elongatedentrance, 28, into which the burner,

20, projects. It will be understood that the tube soldering iron andfire-box are all ca able of vertical movement independently o thebracket, 21 and the head, 9, but that they are adjustable with saidhead.

' As the weight of the solderin steel and all those parts connected tothe tu e, 22, would rest on the can during the soldering operation, ithas been found in practice that the weight is too great, and willlnterfere with the proper revolution of the can, and in order to avoidthis I provide a spring, 29, which is carried by the head, 9, and whichengages a projecting pin, 30, on the tube, 22,

which Wlll aid in sustaining the weight of said iron. The in, 30,projects through a slot, 31, in the racket, 21, and thus preventsrotation of thetube and iron when the latter is in contact with the cancap.

In the operation of the present invention the cans are placed on seatswhich are sustained by a flexible carrier and caused 'to revolve as theyadvance and'the construction of this carrier will now be described,special attention being directedto Figs. 8 and 13 of the drawings. Thecarrier comprises a plurality of links, 35, which are arranged inpairs,one above the other, and which are provided at their ends withaperforation, 36. A sleeve, 37, has reduced ends which enter theperforations in the links and serve to hold the links in proper positionwith respect to each other. A bushing, 38, extends through the sleeve,37, and the ends of said bushing project beyond the outer surfaces ofsaid links, 35, so as to enter a erforation in the end of a connectingor bri ge-link, 39. The ends of the bridge-link, 39, are thereforepivotally retained with res ect to the ends of the links, 35, so as toma e a flexible joint between the links at their overlapping ends. Avertical stem or shaft, 40, extends through the bushings, 38, and theupper end of each stem carries a disk, 41, which forms a seat for thefilled cans to rest upon while the lower end of the shaft carries apinion, 42, whichis to be revolved in a horizontal plane, as willpresently be described.

From the foregoing description it is to be understood that the carrierhas the form of a s rocket chain which travels in a horizontal p ane andeach joint of the chain forms a earing for a can-seat shaft.

The devices andmechanism for sustaining the s rocket chain and drivingit in a horizontal p ane will now be described.

A sprocket-wheel, 43, is mounted on the tubular shaft, 4, so as torevolve therewith in a horizontal plane and by reference to Fig. 8, itwill be seen that the teeth, 44, on this wheel are provided with concaverecesses, 45, which'receive the sleeves,.37,at the joints of the chainlinks and draw the chain in the direction in which the sprocket-wheelmoves. A similar sprocket wheel is supported at the o posite end of themachine around which the sprocket-chain and can seats pass. on theirreturn. 7 This latter wheel, however, has been omitted in the drawingmerely because of the lack of room on a single sheet to illustrate it.

Between the two ends of the machine the sprocket chain is su ported andguided by parallel rails, 46, which are spaced apart a circular racsufficiently to enable the sleeves, 37, of the carrier chain to ass in avertical position between them, W ile the upper links, -,wf the chainrest and slideupon the top surface of the parallel rails, as will beseen 1n Fig. 9. While the chain is thus sustained by the guide-rails thepinions, 42, will hang pendently below the rails, and while travelingalong one side of the machine these pinions mesh with a stationary rack,47, extending only on one side of the machine where it is supported atseveral points by the vertical legs, 48, and at other oints by suitablebrackets, The rac 47, causes the pinions, 42, and can-seats, 41, torotate 'while'passing along one side of the machine.

Beneath the sprocket-wheel, 43, the tubular shaft, 4', is rovided with acollar, 51, and E, 52, hasv a central .hub, 53,

which loosely fits the shaft and rests on the collar, 51. Brackets, 54,project from the frame, 55, and extend beneath the circiilar rack towhich they are bolted, as clearly seen in Fig. 11.

From the foregoing description it is to be understood that the can seatsare revolved as the chain passes over the rails along one side of themachine and continue to revolve as the chain travels around with thesprocket wheel, but as the chain leaves the sprocket wheel it merelypasses onto the guide-rails at the opposite side of the machine and thepinions, 42, are free and the seats then discontinue their revolution.

At the side of and just above the seats are stationary can-guide rails,56, which are su ported-by stems, 57, which are adjustably mounted insuitable brackets, placed at intervals along the machine.

Between each two adjoining can-seats are separating blocks 58, (seeFigs. 1,3, 14 and 15) which project above the seats and prevent the cansfrom becoming displaced and overlapping two seats, and also serve tocenter the cans on the seats. These blocks are sustainedby the upperbrid e-link, 39, of the sprocket, chain and are he (1 in a verticalposition by their lower ends, 59, entering a socket, 60, in a plate, 61,which is secured on the top surface of said link. The upperend,

' 62, of these blocks projects laterally over the peri hery of thecan-seats, 41, and in case a sma ler sized can is to be'cap ed theseblocks may be lifted out of the soc ets as they are not secured thereinand another block substituted having a larger head as indicated bybroken .lines, 63, in Fig; 13.

Motion is imparted to the machine through a pulley, 64, on the outer endof a main driving shaft, 65,; which extends horizontally betweenand-hasbearing in the frames, 1.

A inion, 66, is secured on the main shaft an said pinion meshes with anddrives a gear, 67, ona shaft, 68 which is beneath it. This latter shaft,at its inner end, carries a bevel pinion, 69, which meshes with anddrivesa horizontal gear, 70, at the bottom of the tubular shaft, 4.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 18 to 22 I tion of this solder feed thesolder distri uter which presents the solder to the iron is caused tomove forward to meet the iron and I to return with said iron during theapplication of the solder to the latter. This backand-forth movement ofthe iron is utilized to feed the solder provided a can is on the seatbelow the iron, but if for any reason'an.

empty seat is presented the solder distribiiter will make itsback-and-forth movement without, however,,operating to feed solder.

By reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that at'the upper and lower endsof the tubular shaft, 4, are two crank-like arms, .71,the upper armbein'g'sustained in its-elongated positionF-from,beneath by a bi'acket,72. These arms'areloosely mounteden the shaft and are not revolvedtherewith. Bars, 73,

project laterally from the arms, 71, and their outer ends are connectedby a vertical rod,

74. A casterv or roller, 75, is secured on the bottom of the lower bar,73, and rolls on a horizontal track-plate, 76, which is secured to thelower cross-beam, 3. This caster serves to support the weight of thearms and rod. -A clamp, 77, is secured around the vertical rod, 74, andcarries a roller, 78, at

one side which is free to turn. The vertical position of the clamp androller is such as to j brin it into proximity to the main horizontalriving shaft, 65. A cam, 79, is carried on this main shaft at the sideof the rod, 74, and said cam has a'groove', 80, in its side next to therod, so the roller on the clamp may project into said cam-groove, 80,and im art a back-and-forth movement to said r0 Above the cam, 79, is ahorizontal plate, 81, which is rigidly secured on the vertical rod, 74,by a clamp, 82, and feather, 82 and this plate projects laterally infront of the said rod and moves backand-forth therewith. At one edge andadjacent the rod, 74, a downwardly-projecting stem, 83, is provided onthe bottom of this plate. The

lower end of this stem pivotally supports a v horizontal bar, 84, whichhas a vertical flan e, 85, at one edge andthis flanged edge of t e barprojects horizontally'and at the side and in the path of the travelingcans as they begin to make the circuit around the that is, if for anyreason a can-seat, 41, should arrive at the bar, 84, without a can thebar will make 'a movement that will stop the solder-feed. The presenceof a can, however, holds the bar, 84-, and revents such movement. On topof the p late, 81, is a housing, 89, comprising parallel spaced-apartside-walls, 90, in which the grooved solder feed rolls, 91, are mounted.Solder carrying tubes, 92, are sustained in front of the housing and theinner ends of these tubes register with the grooves in the rolls whilethe outer ends of said tubes enter a head or distributer, 93, which issustained on an inclined block, 94, at'the edge of the plate, 81, andadjacent the path of the soldering irons, 25. It will be noted that thesolder distributer is broad and flat at its discharge-end, 95, and thatwhen the plate, 81, is moved forward to meet the iron this fiatdischarge-end takes position adjacent a flattened surface, 96, of thesoldering iron so that the solder when fed to the iron will be appliedto said surface of the iron close-to the top of the can, 97. A bevelgear, 98, is provided on one end of the shaft of the upper solder feedroll by which the. latter is revolved and the opposite end of said shaftcarries a gear, 99," which meshes with a similar gear, 100, on the shaftof the lower roll as shown in Fig. 3. The bottom plate, 101, of thehousing is provided at one edge with a'vertical bearing, 102, throughwhich a vertical shaft, 103, extends. The upper end of this shaftcarries a pinion, 104, which meshes with and imparts a partial ro-' tarymotion to the gear, 98, on the solder roll shaft. The mechanism employedto cause this shaft, 103, to make partial revolutions will be described.Projecting from the frame, 1, is a bracket, 105, from which a stationarystem, 106, projects upwardly. in a vertical direction. A lever, 107, ispivotally sustained on the lower end of the vertical shaft, 103, andthis lever has a slotted or bifurcated end, 108, which moves looselyaround the stationary stem, 106. The pivoted end of this lever carries apawl, 109, which latter in turn carries a curved plate, 110, whichcurves outwardly and in advance of the engaging end ofthe pawl. Aratchet wheel, 111, is fixed on the vertical shaft, 103, and hasposition on to of the lever, 107, and at the side of the paw 109, andthe latter is designed to engage the ratchet when the lever isoscillated in a horizontal direction and impart a artial revolution tosaid ratchet and sha and also to impart a like movement to the pinion,104, and solder rolls. A trip-lever, 112, has one end pivoted to thecan-engaging bar, 84, and its other end is provided with a slot, 113,through which the vertical solder-feed shaft, 103, passes. This slottedend of the trip-lever rests on topof the ratchet-wheel, 111, and slidesthereon. The under side of this triplever is provided with a shoulder,114, with which the curved plate, 110, on the pawl, 109, contacts.

If a can is absent from a seat as the latter arrives at the can-lever,84, said lever will swing outwardly over the seat and take the positionshown in Fig. 20. In taking this position the can-lever will draw thetrip-lever, 112, outwardly by sliding the slotted end over. the flatside of the ratchet wheel and in making this movement the shoulder, 114,on the-bottom of the trip will operate the curved plate, 110, of thepawl and disengage it from the ratchet so that when the entire soldermechanism is moved forward to meet a can the pawl will be held out ofengagement and permit the ratchet wheel to remain idle. If a can ispresent on the seat the circular-wall of the can will push the can-leverand trip toward the ratchet and permit the pawl to engage the ratchetand feed the solder. It will thus be understood that in the operationthe solder feed devices move forward to meet a soldering iron and returnin register with said iron, and the solder will be fed only when a canis present.

In order to insure that the soldering of the ca s on the cans will beperfect I have provi ed an improved device to hold the caps down on thecans after they leave the heated soldering irons in order to enable thesolder to set and cool. This mechanism will now be described, referencebeing had to Figs. 1, 2 and 16 of the drawings.

Secured to the guide-rails, 46, at the discharge side of the machine,and projecting vertically therefrom are two standards or supports, 115,and, 116, which sustain a horizontal bar, 117, in a plane above thecans. This horizontal bar is provided at each end with a bearing, 118,through which shafts,

119, and, 120, extend and carry sprocketwheels, 121, which latter arerevolved in a. vertical plane directly above the can caps,

122, (see Fig.1). A' sprocket chain, 123, passes around the wheels, 121,and this chain carries a pluralit of brackets, 124, which are spaced atequa distances apart,the distance being e ual to the distance betweenthe centers 0 two adjoinin cans while on the can seats. Each of t esebrackets on the sprocket chain carries a roller, 125, and the rollersare loosely mounted in the brackets by providing a central hole, 126,

which is much larger than the pin, 127, passing through it, as seen inFig. 17. In order to support the upper stretch of the sprocket chain,123, between the sprockets I provide a lurality of bracket-arms, 128,which are bo ted to the bar, 117, and extend vertically and thenlaterally beneath the said upper stretch of the chain and to the upperends of these brackets I secure a horizontal rail, 129, on which theupper stretch of the chain slides. The lower stretch of the sprocketchain is sustained between the sprockets by means of parallel rails,130, which are attached to suitable brackets, 13 1. These rails howeveronly sustain the chain during the absence of cans beneath'the rollers.In order to cause the weights to travel with the cancaps on which theyrest,'I have provided a sprocket wheel, 132, on the shaft, 120, aroundghich a driving chain, 133, travels, as seen in 1g. 2. a In order toenable cans that have just been filled to be entirely closed with butone handling I have constructed amachine in which the cans are placed onan endless carrier where they remain without shifting, either byhandormechanically, until all of the necessary operations are performed ineffecting their complete and final closure and as far as I am aware Ibelieve I am the first to construct a single endless carrier machine to.

operate in this manner. 7 It will be understood that the endless carrierwith the cans thereon travels along opposite sides of the machine andturns at the ends by means of sprocket wheels. I

In order to efiect a complete closure by soldering, the cans after theyhave been filled must have flux applied to their cap-seats; the capsmust then be soldered and then cooled, and finally, the vent hole in thecap must be closed. By means of my machine a can when laced on thecarrier will be subjected to a these operations before it is removedfrom the carrier.

At the feed side of the machine and before r the cans pass beneath thesoldering irons I provide a flux device, 134, which operates to applyflux to each cap and can-seat as it advances toward the soldering irons.

The form and construction of this flux device is made the subject of acompanion a plication executed and filed by me simu taneously with thepresent application, and a description of its construction willtherefore be omitted in the present application. At the dis charge sideof the machine and after the capped cans have assed beyond the cap hoer, I provide a evice, 135, for tipping or soldering the vent-holes andefi'ectin the final closure of the can. This tipping evice also formsthe subject of a companion application executed and filed simultaneouslywith the present a lication and description of it is also omittedlierein.

It will therefore be seen that in my machine the single endless sprocketchain carrying an endless seriesof 'can-seatswill convey a can withoutchange from the time it is filled until after it is tipped.

The fluxer 1s operated through a horizontal shaft, 136, gears, 137, and,138, and a vertical shaft, 139, and the tlpp and, 141, and verticalshaft, 142.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is,

1. A can-cap solderin machine having a I series of non-rotating sodering irons traveling in a circular horizontal path; a lurality ofcan-seats rotatable in a horizonta plane to ing the cans seats fromtheir circular path.

2. A can-cap soldering machine havm a plurality of non-rotatingtraveling soldering irons; a vent-hole tipping iron; a can-conveyermoving with the traveling solderin irons and then past the tipping iron,an means for revolving the cans'as they travel with the soldering irons.I I

3. A can-cap soldering machine having a plurality of non-rotatingtraveling1 soldering irons; a tipping iron outside of t e ath of thesoldering irons to solder the ventoles in the can-caps; an endlessseries of can-seats for carrying the cans through the path of thesoldering irons and iromt e latter past the said tipping iron and meansfor rotating the can seats while they are traveling with the irons.

4. A can-cap solderin machine having a pluralityof nonrotating solderingirons traveling through a circular path; a tipping iron outside of thecircular path of the soldering irons; means for imparting a rotarymotion to the cans, and an endless can-supporting conveyer for carryingthe cans through a partial circular path with the soldering irons andthen from the latter to the tipping iron.

5. A can-ca soldering machine having a plurality of so dering ironstravelin thro h .a circular path; a ti g the ping iron outslde ofcircular path of sai irons; a flexible endless conveyer having aplurality of can-seats, said conveyer traveling through a partialcircular path with the soldering irons and then traveling past thetipping iron, and means for rotatin veyer only while t ey travel withthe soldering irons. i

6. A can-ca soldering machine having a pluralitg of so dering ironstraveling m a circuit a ux traveling soldering irons; a tipping'iron,and a series of can-seats travelingpast the flux device and moving in apartial circular path With the soldering irons and thentraveling pastthe tipping iron." v

7 A can-ca soldering machine having a plurality of so dering. ironstraveling in a circular ath; means outside of the path of said irons orholding the caps down on the cans while the solder cools, andfa.conveyer for the can-seats on the condevice outside of the path of saidcarrying the cans in a partial circular path with the irons and thenpresenting the cans to the said cap holder.

8. A can-ca soldering machine having a plurality of so dering ironstraveling in a circular path; a cap-holder outside of the circular pathof said irons to hold the caps down on the cans While the solder cools;an endless conveyer having a plurality of can seats and traveling in apartial circular path with the irons and then passing the saidcapholder; and means for rotating said canseats only while they aretraveling with the soldering irons.

9. A can-cap soldering machine having a flux-applying device; aplurality of soldering irons traveling in a circuit; a cap-holdingdevice to hold the caps down while the solder cools; a tipping iron toapply solder to the vent-hole in the can-cap; an endless conveyer havingrotatable can-seats and traveling past the several named devices, andmeans to cause the can-seats to rotate only while assing theflux-applying device and the so dering irons.

10. A can-cap soldering machine having a plurality of soldering ironstraveling in a circular path; an endless flexible chain conveyer leadingto the solderingf-irons, and moving in a partial circular path therewithand then passing from said irons; rotatable can-seats mounted at thejoints of said flexible chain conveyer; means for rotating said seatsonly while they are traveling with the soldering irons, and asolder-feed device.

11. A can-cap soldering machine having a plurality of non-rotatingsoldering irons traveling in a circular path; a sprocket wheel belowsaid irons; an endless sprocket chain traveling over said wheel; railsbeyond said Wheel for sustaining said chain; a plurality of can-seatsmounted at the joints of said chain; means for rotating said seats whilethey are traveling with the irons and a solder-feed device.

12. A can-cap soldering machine having a tubular shaft; a head revolvingwith said shaft; a plurality of non-rotating soldering irons carried bysaid head; a fire-box movable with each of said irons; a burner for eachof said fire-boxes and irons; means for vertically adjusting theposition of the fireboxes, irons and burners simultaneously on saidshaft, and a can-conveyer below the irons.

13. A can-cap soldering machine havin a tubular shaft; a head revolvingwith said shaft; a lurality of soldering irons carried by said ead; agas-chamber surrounding the shaft and sustained by the head; a pluralityof burners radiating from said cham ber; means whereby the said head,irons, gas-chamber and burners may all be moved simultaneously on theshaft, and a canconveyer below said irons.

series of cap-contact devices to engage the caps on the cans as thelatter leave the soldering irons.

17. A can-cap soldering machine having a plurality of soldering ironstraveling in a circular path; an endless can-conveyer traveling througha partial circular path with the irons and then diverging from saidirons; a movable cap-holder adjacent the conveyer at the point where thelatter diverges from said irons,said cap-holder having a plurality ofdevices to contact with the caps on the cans, and means for moving thecapcontact devices with the can-conveyer.

18. A can-cap soldering machine having a plurality of soldering irons; aconveyer for conducting the cans to and from the soldering irons; anendless chain beyond the soldering irons and carrying a. plurality ofcapholding devices, and means for moving said endless chainandcap-holding devices with the cans.

19.- A can-cap soldering machine havin a plurality of soldering irons; aconveyer %or conducting the cans to and from the soldering irons; anendless chain beyond the soldering irons and traveling in a path withthe capped cans and carrying .a plurality of loosely sustained weightsto rest on the ca s and travel with the cans while the solder coo s.

20. A can-cap solderin machine having a plurality of traveling sol eringirons; a conveyer for moving the cans with said irons; a solder-feeddevice to apply solder to all the said irons, and meansfor causing thesolderfeed device to travel a short distance with the said irons.

21. A can-cap solderin machine having a plurality of traveling sol eringirons; a coni the irons successively; means for reciprocating the saidsolder device to cause it to travel with the soldering irons, anddevices operated by a can on the conveyer to enable solder to be fedwhile the solder device is being reciprocated.

23. A can-cap soldering machine having a plurality of travelingsoldering-irons; a conveyer having can-seats for moving the cans withsaid irons; a solder-feed device for delivering solderto the said ironssuccessively; means for advancing the solder-feed device .to meet thesaid traveling irons and to return therewith and means whereby theabsence of a can from a can-seat will enable the solderfeed device toadvance but without feeding solder.

24. A can-cap soldering machine having a plurality of travelingsoldering-irons; a conveyer having seats on which the cans are moved; asolder appl ing device movable in the same plane with t e said irons; asolderfeed device; a lever moving with the solderalpplying device andprojecting in the path of t e moving cans, and a trip device coactingbetween the lever and the solder-feed device to stop the feed of solderwhen a can is.

solder-device having a solder distributer to register and travel withthe iron succes-- sively; means for feeding solder to the distributer,and means whereby the said distributer may travel with a soldering ironduring the absence of a can without the solder being fed.

I 27. A can-cap soldering machine having a series of non-rotatingsoldering irons which travel in a circular horizontal path; an endlessseries of can seats; means for moving the can seats horizontally intothe circular path of and in register with the traveling irons thenthrough a portion only of the circular path with said irons and finallydivert said seats and cause them to travel out of the circular path, andmeans for horizontally rotating those seats of the series that aretraveling through the circular path with the irons.

28. A can-cap soldering machine having a plurality of non -rotatingsoldering irons traveling in acircular path; a flux applying deviceoutside of the path of said nonrotating traveling irons; a tipping ironalso outside of the circular path of the traveling irons; an endlessseries of can seats traveling past the flux device then through thecircular path with the traveling non-rotating irons and finally past thetipping iron, and means for rotating said seats while they are travelingin the circuit with the soldering irons.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. AYARS.

Witnesses:

v JONATHAN W. AoToN, BENJAMIN E. HARRIS.

